本研究以「獨居老人之孤獨經驗」為主題，透過詮釋現象學方法的引導，以亞隆的存在心理治療和老年發展理論為解釋觀點，針對四位老年的研究參與者進行深度訪談，取得文本資料，並透過生命經驗述說與視域化的綜合分析，藉以揭露「獨居老人之孤獨經驗」本質與其生活世界背後所隱藏之意義。 本研究發現，堅強、有擔當、不求人及認命，是獨居老人的核心信念。老人在孤獨的處境中，能和世界有所關連是最具有重要意義的，即使這份關係的對象只是一件微不足道的事物。整體而言，孤獨、無根及無意義是獨居老人的基本處境，他們都體會到生命的空無、憂懼與絕望。在獨居老人經驗到的孤獨背後，所隱藏的乃是一種存在的孤獨。這份孤獨不是人際關係所能消弭的，而是每個人都必須獨自面對的課題。 孤獨是老人問題的根底，任何致力於協助老人的作為，勢必都將一定程度的考量老人面對的孤獨問題。因此，本研究對老人孤獨處境及經驗的描寫，可做為其他相關老人研究的參考基礎，也可促使相關助人單位及助人者，在外在的設施與資源之外，更重視老人內在的心理與靈性問題，以整體提昇老人照護工作的品質與內涵，並促進老年政策及老人社會福利的另類思維。 This is a research regarding solitude experiences of solitary elderly residents. This research uses the viewpoint of existential psychotherapy and elderly development theory by guidance of hermeneutic-phenomenological method. The text data is provided by depth-interviews with four solitary elderly residents, and described by combined analysis of life experiences and viewing horizons, to reveal the nature and hidden meaning of solitude experiences of solitary elderly residents. This research found out that adamant, worthiness, self-dependent, and resignation is the core concept of solitary elderly residents. It is important for an elderly resident to be able to connect to the world in their solitude, no matter how trivial the subject of the connection may be. In general, an elderly in their solitude faces the emptiness, fear, and despair in their solitude, rootless, and meaningless situations. The solitude the elders face are what we call existential isolation, the feeling of solitude one has to face when one is alone. This is not the kind that can be improved by relationships, but are the kind of solitude that gives the feeling of isolation. Loneliness is the root of the problem of elders in solitude. Any assistance given to elders should consider at some levels the problem of elders facing solitude. This research of solitude experiences of solitary elderly residents can be used as reference for related elderly researches. This research can also prompt assisting units to also look into the inner and spiritual issues of the elderly while providing other resources or better facilities. More emphasis on inner and spiritual issues of the elderly can improve the quality and content of elders care generally, and prompt another viewpoint of elder policies and elders society welfare.
